Baltic

I recently went to Baltic on a busy Friday evening it would seem. Initially I didnt make any booking as I was under the impression that my 9.45pm arrival would be greated with a sight of a table waiting for me.

Much to my dismay to find that indeed this was not the case. I was greated by a handsome young man who addressed that he would ensure that I had a table in the next couple of minutes and took my coats and showed me to the bar. I asked what he thought would be a good start for my cocktail choice at to which point i was won over by his recommendation of a Cherrie Cooler cocktail! FANTASTIC

After a couple of sips my table in a quiet corner was presented to me. Again by the same man who look more like a south American stallion…presented me with a bottle of fizzy water and again a chosen recommendation which was a lovely lamb stew cooked to perfection.

The staff were well organised and friendly and service was superb.

I have been won over and will be back!

Thank you for the start of what proved a memorable weekend. Freddy proposed to me the next day so will be back to celebrate with my new fiance…Robin xxx

Wow, from the outside this place looks like a small, unexciting bistro but then you walk through to the restaurant area and it's just stunning, with a beautiful glowing amber light installation. Both the cocktails and sublimely light blinis we shared at the bar were excellent. Skipped starters and went straight to main when my shoulder of lamb was the tenderest I have ever had. We just had a tiny space left for the apple pie with cinnamon ice-cream which was buttery and delicious. Service was attentive but also relaxed and friendly throughout. Really can't fault this place at all – it's well worth the reasonable (for London) prices and it'd definitely going on my favourites list.

I used to love this restaurant when it really represented “baltic” dining. The current menu is very disappointing as it is trying to have a bit of everything which means offering dishes that are more standard British or Turkish than Eastern European. If you stick to the Eastern European dishes, the food is lovely but slightly over-priced for what it is. The cocktails though make up for it somewhat as they are supurb. The number of Polish vodkas is incredible and the martinis made from them are the smoothest I tasted. Please Baltic, let me love you again and change your menu to have truly Baltic only dishes.

By 9.30 on a Saturday, night 5 main courses were unavailable. Between us, our party ordered the unavailable dishes sequentially, such that it was 10.30 before it became crystal clear that zero of 5 of us were going to get what we ordered. By 10.55, we left, having tried only starters ,so my comments on the food pertain to only the overly sweet eel (inedible and sent back) and the dumplings (thank god there were loads of them unceremonially dumped on the plate, as we were starving). Not clear which part of the Baltic region the shish kebab dish represented, but the waiting staff represented part or parts which had clearly only recently emerged into the concept of being basically polite to customers and hence were not yet fully familiar with the concept. Value for money is rated higher than would be anticipated, since although they didn't buy us a drink for having wasted our evening and sent us racing home starving for bacon sandwiches at nearly 11pm, they did forget to charge us for our cocktails and we didn't think it fair on ourselves to remind them.

As a regular-ish diner here, I often start with the Siberian pelmeni; a generous plate of bite-sized veal and pork dumplings which are meaty and glistening with butter, conjuring the image of a peasant farmer in the old Soviet Bloc.

On my last visit I made the mistake of ordering the crayfish and crab salad as a main course, in an attempt to try something different from the menu. It was listed under ‘Seafood’ so I presumed it was a main course, but what came was rather insignificant and left me feeling a bit cheated.

Nevertheless, I enjoy going to Baltic. It’s the perfect venue for a reasonably priced midweek bite, and their mixed platter from the bar menu is quite scrumptious too if you can’t stomach a full restaurant meal.

Read the full review at The Arbuturian.

Baltic is one of those venues I go to rarely but when I do I always enjoy it. I guess for me the location keeps it off the radar until the rare times I'm in the area but I think this is a good thing as it keeps my visits fresh. Food is always good – very tasty and filling. I usually stick to the same dishes the haunch of venison or the Weiner Schnitzel – simple dishes but always well done. There always seems to be a good atmosphere when I go (usually late evening or after theatre) and there is always an interesting crowd. Excellent Vodka selections always top a trip off perfectly and combined with the food I always leave into the night feeling very warm and satisfied. The Sunday menu especially seems very comforting so I'm sure I'll be heading that way a little more with the cold winter on it's way.

Excellent starters and cocktails, terrible main courses and the service was really bad on the evening that we visited, fair enough it was late on a Saturday night but I expect a basic of which level of politeness and attentiveness, both of which were sadly missing.

Attended the Baltic last night (saturday) in a party of 7, for a friends birthday. The atmosphere in the Bar and the restaurant was lively enough to be interesting, but with a chilled enough ambience to still be relaxed.
The staff were friendly and happy enough, got everything right, and the food was all brought out in good time, without ever seeming rushed. The one downside is that they were nowhere to be seen if you wanted to order more drinks or deserts etc.
The food itself was excellent. I had meat dumplings to start with and roast rump of Lamb for Main. Others on the table had a variety of Eastern European (Polish?) starters that were a welcome change from the standard fare in a lot of other restaurants. Mains we had ranged from Grilled Fish to hearty casseroles and came with sides of great chips and red cabbage. The varied menu does leave you a bit spoilt for choice. Other options included Roast Partridge, Goose Legs, Black sausage and Steaks.
The wine list was varied in origin and price, there were some different beers to try and a wide range of “Wodka” to choose from.
A very enjoyable evening was had by everyone in our group. If we are back in the area we would definitely return.

There are few restaurants like Baltic in London: tons of atmosphere, great food & drinks, and fab service- but you don't leave feeling ripped off at the end of the night. The cocktails absolutely rock (try the Baltic Spring Punch), and the bar is great fun for just drinks washed down with caviar & smoked salmon blinis. Don't forget to order one of their special vodkas – you can choose the size of carafe you want – they come encased in ice to ensure the temparature is tip top. The food is normally brilliant, and the sour cherry creme brulee is not to be missed. Great for star-spotting too, especially the actors from the nearby Old Vic.